The Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 creates a five year period between general elections. Early elections may only be held in specified circumstances. A joint committee has been appointed to undertake a statutory review of the Act and undertake pre-legislative scrutiny of Government proposals to repeal the Act.
Documents to download
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The European Union Bill 2010-11: Lords Committee and Report Stages (175 KB, PDF)
The European Union Bill went to the House of Lords on 10 March 2011 (HL Bill 55 2010-2011). It was debated in Committee for eight days and was sent unamended to the Lords as HL Bill 74 2010-2012 for Report Stage on 8, 13 and 15 June. The Lords 3rd Reading of the Bill was on 23 June and it returns to the Commons on 11 July 2011 (HL 209 2010-12).
The Lords amendments:
• reduced the compulsory requirement for referenda on 56 issues to three
• clarified the sovereignty clause
• introduced a 40% turnout threshold for a referendum to be binding
• passed a sunset clause that will require a future Parliament by positive resolution to revive the Bill.
Documents to download
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The European Union Bill 2010-11: Lords Committee and Report Stages (175 KB, PDF)
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This is a reading list of publications on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and future UK-EU relations from library, research services and committees of the UK and devolved parliaments and assemblies.
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This paper discusses the way that Parliament scrutinises the Government's proposals for taxation, set out in the annual Budget statement. It looks at how this procedure may be affected by the timing of a General Election, and the decision in 2017 to move the Budget from the Spring to the Autumn. It also provides some suggestions for further reading.
